Electrical connecter



Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE P. EDMONDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB 'IO G & W ELECTRIC SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Application filed September 4, 1926. Serial No. 133,604.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical connectors and more particularly to connectors for the top of potheads.

My improvement has to do with means forming a terminal for an insulated conductor such as a pothead which will permit an electrical conductor to be readily connected thereto or disconnected therefrom, and of a structure to serve as means for maintaining an insulating bushing, a cap, and a conductor forming the pothead, in assembled relation, the means being further provided with a portion for abuttin and overhanging a portion of the cap to efl ect a seal and protect ing collar for excluding moisture and dirt from the interior of the bushing, and further the provision of a cap for the bushing made of insulating material to assure safe electrical clearance, this last feature being especially advantageous when used on a multiple outlet bushing member.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a terminal for the insulated end of a conductor which will permit the connection or disconnection of a cable readily without disturbing the pothead assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a terminal for an insulated conductor such as a pothead which will permit a cable to be readily connected or disconnected without exposing the interior of the pothead structure to moisture, dirt or detrimental effects.

Another object of my invention is to provide in the combination of an insulating bushingand conductor therefor, a cap nut adjustably connected to the outer end of the conductor in a manner to hold the conductor under tension and centrally disposed in the bushin and provided with a skirt portion adapted to abut and overhang an annular protrusion or collar surrounding the opening through said cap, the cap being likewise provided with a portion for abutting and overhanging the bushing, both arrangements effecting a seal and means protecting the joints between the assembled parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connecter of the above described type embodying all the advantages set forth in the above stated objects, in which the cap posithe accompanying sheet of drawings, in

which Figure '1 is an elevation in cross-section disclosing the internal structure of my improved electrical connecter; and

Figure 2 is a top plan View of Figure 1.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particw larly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is an improvement in potheads comprising a support 10 adapted to be attached as desired by means of screws or the like inserted through openings 11 and provided with a cylindrical body portion 12 receiving in its upper end an insulating bushing 13 preferably but not necessarily provided on its outer surface with petticoats or fins 14, the bushing being attached to the support in any suitable manner, such as, for instance, by cement 15, the upper end of the support resting against the'packing ring 16 positioned in a groove 17 provided in the bushing. Extending into the support and bushing is a cable, designated generally 18, suitably Wrapped with insulating material 19 and enclosed in a casing 20. The cable is of less diameter than the interior of the bushing in order to provide a space, which is filled with an insulating oil when the structure is completely assembled. The other end of the body portion 12 of the support is provided with an abutment 21 adapted to receive the threaded packing ring 22, the ring being maintained in seated relation by threaded engagement, as'at 23, with annular element 24 carried by the casing by means of the clam 25'connected by bolts 26 to the ears or pre erably circular flange 27 integral with the casing. Positioned between the annular element 24 and the packing ring 22 is a packing gland 28 constructed to slide relative to these elements when the packing ring is tightened, in a manner to compress the packing material 29 to seal the conductor opening in the end of the pothead assembly. It will be appreciated that such an end construction forms a very compact and efficient stufling box for the end of the body portion 12.

The other end of the insulating bushing 15 bored as at 30 to provide a shoulder 31 on insulating material is mounted provided with a bore 39 of greater diameter than the connecter 36 so that the cap will be spaced therefrom, and further provided with a depending circumferential flange adapted to overhang the end of the bushing, the packing 40 being interposed between the bushing and the cap between their points of contact. On the outer side of the cap 38 an annular protrusion or collar 45 surrounding the bore is provided. The conn cter 36 which extends beyond the cap is threaded as at 41 in a manner to receive the cap nut or hood nut 42, the nut having an annular lateral extension 43 adapted to abut the protrusion 45, the extension being provided with an overhanging circumferential flange 44 which may be provided with two engaging shoulders, the packing 46 being introduced between the points of contact. The nut 42 presents a smooth cylindrical surface 47 adapted to receive the clamping lug 48, the packing ring 49 being positioned between the clamping lug and the annular flange on the nut. The clamping lug comprises a split annular portion 50 adapted to surround and tightly engage the nut 42, clamping action being effected by the bolt 51 threaded through lugs at the end of the split annular, and the recessed member 52 in which the end of a cable is soldered.

In operation, my device is attached to any suitable supporting means in a desired man ner, the parts being assembled as above described, the connection being effected by placing the cable lug 48 over the terminal end or cap nut 42, the bolt 51 being then turned to clamp the'cable in fixed relation. When it is desired to disconnect the cable, it is merely necessary to loosen the bolt 51 and lift the lug 48 from the terminal nut. The advantages of this structure can be readily seen in that it permits a connection and disconnection of the cable by a very simple operation and one which does not necessitate an interference with the assembly of the terminal as a unit, thus eliminating the danger of moisture or dirt or other detrimental substances entering the interior of the structure and influencing the parts therein. The overhang provided by the annular flange on the nut to gether with the packing amply protects the joint between these parts, and the cap llkewise seals the joint between the cap and bushing-by virtue of its structure and the packing 40.

It can be further seen that by the provision of the cap of insulating material, a safe electrical clearance is provided which is especial- 1y useful in a multiple outlet bushing construction, thereby eliminating the use of the extremely large insulating bodies necessary when metal caps are used to provide proper clearance between the live parts of the cap and the connecter.

I claim:

1. In a pothead connecter, the combination of a bushing having a support attached to one end and a cap. at its other end, a cable extending into the support and bushing having means abutting the support, a connecter attached to the end of said cable and extending through said cap, and a cap nut adjustably connected to the end of said connecter and having a portion abutting said cap whereby when the cap nut is tightened the cable and connecter are placed under tension between the two abutments so as to be fixed in position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a bushing supported thereby, a cable extending into said support and bushing and provided with means for closing the bottom of said support, insulating means disposed around said cable, a conductor disposed in the top of said bushing provided with spacing means cooperating with said bushing, said conductor being fixedly attached to said cable and provided with actuating means for causing the first mentioned means to have non-leaking engagement with .said support.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support, a bushing supported thereby, said support and bushing having a bore therein, a cable disposed therein and provided with means for closing said bore, insulating means in said bore surrounding said cable, centering means supported by said bushing, a conductor extending therethrough fastened to the cable and provided with a collar for sliding engagement with the centering means insuring equal insulation around said cable, and actuating means for said conductor to insure a non-leaking clolsgure between said first named means and the ore.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bushing, of an insulating cap therefor provided with a flange adapted to protect the top of said bushing, a cap nut provided with a flange adapted to protect a portion of said cap and havin a thimble for cable lug attachment, 2. cable 

